'84 US head gasket failure...suggestions?
#62
Nordschleife Master
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,164
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Yes. This connector gets replaced with the weatherpak one. Makes connection (and disconnection) much easier. Also is is waterproof, so no corrosion will happen. This happens to this connector all the time.
#63
Pro
Thread Starter
So, I finally stripped the engine down to the heads last night. I know I'm a noob, but I sure wasn't expecting to see this. Check out the descriptions for each photo--cylinder 5 was the one that was leaking.
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjHNWeMs
The head gaskets look brand new! Based on how filthy my engine bay is, I figured that there was no way that anyone could've been in there recently (if ever), but there's no way these gaskets are original.
That being said, I can't see where there is a tear in the gasket or enough corrosion in the heads to cause a leak. Please fill me in if I'm missing something, but the only obvious thing that I can think of is that there might have been some debris between the head and the gasket which prevented a good seal and allowed some coolant through. Like I said, the engine is filthy, and when I pulled the heads I did see some debris on the underside of the gasket, but I can't say for sure whether or not it fell there as I removed the heads or not. I guess another possibility is that I have a cracked head or something like that instead of a fault with the gasket seal, but I don't see anything obvious.
And since the heads are out, is it everyone's opinion that I should get them machined down? And especially considering my experience level (or lack thereof), do you think I should stop here or go deeper and take a look at rods/bearing/valves etc?
It's a long weekend coming up over here and I should have some spare time, and I want to get as much done on this car as possible over the next week. I see lots of engine cleaning in my immediate future.
As always, I'm looking forward to hearing your expert opinions!
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjHNWeMs
The head gaskets look brand new! Based on how filthy my engine bay is, I figured that there was no way that anyone could've been in there recently (if ever), but there's no way these gaskets are original.
That being said, I can't see where there is a tear in the gasket or enough corrosion in the heads to cause a leak. Please fill me in if I'm missing something, but the only obvious thing that I can think of is that there might have been some debris between the head and the gasket which prevented a good seal and allowed some coolant through. Like I said, the engine is filthy, and when I pulled the heads I did see some debris on the underside of the gasket, but I can't say for sure whether or not it fell there as I removed the heads or not. I guess another possibility is that I have a cracked head or something like that instead of a fault with the gasket seal, but I don't see anything obvious.
And since the heads are out, is it everyone's opinion that I should get them machined down? And especially considering my experience level (or lack thereof), do you think I should stop here or go deeper and take a look at rods/bearing/valves etc?
It's a long weekend coming up over here and I should have some spare time, and I want to get as much done on this car as possible over the next week. I see lots of engine cleaning in my immediate future.
As always, I'm looking forward to hearing your expert opinions!
#64
Rennlist Member
Nice work Simon. It looks to me (and I am quite the novice) like evidence of coolant wash on the head for #5. See what I circled below. Take a real close look at the corresponding area on the gasket.
#65
Rennlist Member
Here is what a bit of elbow grease can do for your engine. Intersting that your piston tops are different than mine (I have an early 84 with the 10.0:1 CR). I didn't expect to see dished piston tops for a later 84 - expected flat tops with shallower valve relief cutouts. What say the experts?
#66
Pro
Thread Starter
Pretty looking engine, btw! That's what I'm aspiring for.
#67
Rennlist Member
And that's an interesting comment regarding the pistons...I hope everything is okay! My VIN is WP0JB0920ES860687 if that helps.
#69
Pro
Thread Starter
Phew, that's good to know.
BTW, is it okay for me to rotate the engine on the stand in it's current condition so that I can work on the oil pan gasket? Here is a pic of the engine as it is now.
BTW, is it okay for me to rotate the engine on the stand in it's current condition so that I can work on the oil pan gasket? Here is a pic of the engine as it is now.
#70
Rennlist Member
Yep, you can rotate it. Just don't do it with the lifters in and not the cams on.
#71
Rennlist Member
Also, your lifters are inside the cam towers, as I am sure you know - so no worries there when rotating the engine. It is a good idea to be sure the lifters go back into the same bore, if you should remove them from the cam towers.
#72
Pro
Thread Starter
Great advice everyone, thanks!
What do you all think about machining the heads? Is that something that I should definitely do since they are out of the car or should I not bother if it isn't absolutely necessary? And should I worry about inspecting the rods/valves etc.? To be honest I wouldn't really know what good or bad looks like when it comes to those things.
What do you all think about machining the heads? Is that something that I should definitely do since they are out of the car or should I not bother if it isn't absolutely necessary? And should I worry about inspecting the rods/valves etc.? To be honest I wouldn't really know what good or bad looks like when it comes to those things.
#73
Rennlist Member
What is the mileage on your engine? Did you have any running issues, other than the head gasket leak, that would indicate something was wrong? How was your oil consumption? Did you overheat ever? Did you encounter hydrolock by trying to start the car with #5 full of coolant? At a minimum, you may want to have your heads checked for trueness, espcially if you don't see a gasket breach.
Mine had 38k miles, so we saw no reason to check rod bearings, etc. My heads and block mating surfaces cleaned up nicely, and checked out flat, so I didn't have them surfaced. I replaced valve stem seals, just because it was easy to do. I focused more on the anciliary stuff - injectors cleaned, MAF rebuilt, fuel lines, hoses, TB/WP, OPG, Motor Mounts, etc. - stuff that perishes with time.
I would wait for more expert opinion than mine, though.
Mine had 38k miles, so we saw no reason to check rod bearings, etc. My heads and block mating surfaces cleaned up nicely, and checked out flat, so I didn't have them surfaced. I replaced valve stem seals, just because it was easy to do. I focused more on the anciliary stuff - injectors cleaned, MAF rebuilt, fuel lines, hoses, TB/WP, OPG, Motor Mounts, etc. - stuff that perishes with time.
I would wait for more expert opinion than mine, though.
#74
Pro
Thread Starter
What is the mileage on your engine? Did you have any running issues, other than the head gasket leak, that would indicate something was wrong? How was your oil consumption? Did you overheat ever? Did you encounter hydrolock by trying to start the car with #5 full of coolant? At a minimum, you may want to have your heads checked for trueness, espcially if you don't see a gasket breach.
Mine had 38k miles, so we saw no reason to check rod bearings, etc. My heads and block mating surfaces cleaned up nicely, and checked out flat, so I didn't have them surfaced. I replaced valve stem seals, just because it was easy to do. I focused more on the anciliary stuff - injectors cleaned, MAF rebuilt, fuel lines, hoses, TB/WP, OPG, Motor Mounts, etc. - stuff that perishes with time.
I would wait for more expert opinion than mine, though.
Mine had 38k miles, so we saw no reason to check rod bearings, etc. My heads and block mating surfaces cleaned up nicely, and checked out flat, so I didn't have them surfaced. I replaced valve stem seals, just because it was easy to do. I focused more on the anciliary stuff - injectors cleaned, MAF rebuilt, fuel lines, hoses, TB/WP, OPG, Motor Mounts, etc. - stuff that perishes with time.
I would wait for more expert opinion than mine, though.
#75
Rennlist Member
I have never encountered hydrolock, but I would think it would feel like the starter is trying to turn the engine over but meeting with great resistance (trying to compress water in the cylinder). If there was enough air in there as well (i.e. not completely full of water), there may be enough compressability to rotate the motor enough to open a valve and let the water out.
I'm not sure that the starter would even have enough power to cause damage....
Again, I'm no expert, so let's see what they say.
I'm not sure that the starter would even have enough power to cause damage....
Again, I'm no expert, so let's see what they say.